So for the first time in my life, Sue helped me to create a real New Year's resolution. And I committed. See if you can figure out what it was as you read this blog!
Kevin Hoffman is one of Chris' best friends. He now lives near Syracuse in the state of New York. He came for the party. Chris and Kevin had seen each other only one time in the past 10 years. Sue and Kevin are long-time friends. 
When Chuck Evens tells you to build a wall on your patio, you listen. Particularly when he was the one who took your patio from park shelter to what it is now. The winds were 25-30 mph all day and night on Friday and Saturday. Poor Kevin had to get right to work with Sue and Eva and myself.
So in my mind of pulling off this surprise, I thought Chris would come around the corner of the house and we'd all
spill out from the patio onto the lawn and yell surprise.
But there was a wall with the hurricane winds....
And looking at these pictures shows me that I had NO IDEA everyone was hidden on the patio and in the house like this. I thought they were on the stairs and between the house and patio. So I thought he could see most people as soon as he turned the corner.
So I did the following.
You see, I thought he saw a bunch of
people as he came around the corner.
But refer to the pictures above to see that he could see no one.
So this look on his face
is because I came running down the sidewalk yelling
"surprise" and waving around like this.
"Is the surprise that my wife has her hair done and make-up on?" But again, I'm thinking he sees most people.
I just couldn't wait. I had to know
ONE THING after months of planning:
"DID YOU KNOW?????????" is the first thing I said to him. Clearly he said "NO!"
So then I had to push him down the sidewalk to
where everyone else was waiting.
And since I'd already jumped the gun on one part of the surprise like a 3-year-old who just can't wait,
why not be impatient on another?
And point out Kevin Hoffman.
Instead of letting Chris scan the crowd of look-a-likes to find him.
Chris says "and you three knew about this?" Bill, Andy, Chuck and I had a 2 page document to get all the lies straight! Chris thought they had taken all/most of the day off work to golf with him as a birthday gift set up by myself. Chris later says "I was wondering why Andy was wearing those shorts? I thought maybe he just liked my style?"
"Thanks everyone for hiding and being quiet and parking far away and dressing like Chris' favorites only for me surprise him without any of you being able to see!" UGH!!!!
Eva and Liv acted as bar-backs-garbage-emptiers-photo-takers-food-fillers. I'm sure they learned lots of great things that night. They actually didn't wear Bob shirts, but Vikings jerseys. But clearly they failed on the assignment of getting a photo of EVERYONE with a Chris head, since I don't have a photo of them or some of the guests. I have a photo of most people from the party,
but sadly not everyone.
Aimee had told me that she still remembers her mom's 40th surprise birthday party that she was
able to take part in when she was 15.
The Chris-heads were Eva's great idea!
Sonya and Troy joined us after the Weezer concert.
Radio friends were great sports! Megan...
Klevey placing his drink order through the drive through.
I had been texting John since May asking him questions to help me. You know how guys LOVE that sort of thing. Craig told Jane at 3:00 the same day! She was as surprised as Chris! I didn't think she'd tell him, but I had left my phone and e-mail open accidentally so many times and I was nervous the same would happen to her in the studio. So I sent the invite to her husband Craig only.
I did think he'd tell her in advance;
But Jane and Chris were both surprised!
Sara was very sweet and texted me the next day to say
"I'm not sure what was more fun?
Seeing how excited you were or how surprised Chris was?"
The Tweetons and Langs delayed
Labor Day weekend at the lake to be at the party.
And Fred was home from sea to be able to come with Kris.
Aimee, Andy and Bill
Chris was so shocked to see Cody because anyone who knows Cody knows that he is at Rollag on Labor Day weekend.
Travis and Trent Traphagen (and his wife, Heather) came from Sioux Falls/ Aberdeen and we didn't get to spend nearly enough time with them. The Traphagens are Chris' best buddies from Groton high school. It was great to have them there.
and were good sports dressing as golfers!
Speaking of dressing like Chris' favorites:
Andy, Cody, Bill (Ginger's husband), Kevin
He likes his Loud Mouth shorts.
Oh these faces are funny.
Bill-Chris
And lots of neighbors!
Neighbors!
Not sure how I would've pulled this off without Jerry and Mary's garage and supplies in their garage.
He's the only one who thought of bunny ears? Ha!
Neighbors!
As we were going to bed that night, Chris said "Jason got off call for this party." We are pretty close with our Bison family and know that is a BIG deal. And did Jamie set the same resolution as myself? Take a look at her drink, as they need to get back to Valley City this same night.
And Nolan tried to be a good sport and was going to wear some of Chris' clothes, but instead he wore a North Carolina hat.
And my brothers' better halves were there too!
Matt and Karis missed Friday night of the MN state fair, and instead arrived just in time on Saturday to partake in setting the single-day attendance record. Oh man.
Ginger really needs to come tailgating with us. And if you can believe this overly-planny-planner, I bought this dress last fall on clearance with no idea when I would wear it. I don't get too excited about clothes, but it was a fun outfit!
And this view from my neighbor's
windows the next day made me jump!
25 mph winds. That darn Chuck with the good outdoor ideas.
No-kid staycation.
Hotties back then.
And still today.
So the ol' friends decided to reminisce. I had organized his photos from college when I moved into his town house, and I knew right where they were. I did not remember labeling them like this. I'm sure I was really happy to be organizing all the "that girl was hot" photos while pregnant and tired and hungry and while not being allowed by my new husband to throw away his claw-game stuffed-animal collection.
And the party didn't end after that weekend! His actual birthday was on a Bison game day. Travis holding up a Chris face in front of his own face was a very freaky phenomenon because it really didn't look that different.
He always puts the sticks on the wrong side of his signs....
Lawlers, Syllings and Hansons
So did you figure out my
New Year's Resolution??????????
To be a better wife.
I think I can now be a terrible one for the remainder of the year. Videos of the party and surprise are linked as well. I wasn't aware of the garage-olympics that were taking place?
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